Hosea Chapter 7
From The Open Bible Project
7:1 When I would heal Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim is uncovered, also the wickedness of Samaria; for they commit falsehood, and the thief enters in, and the gang of robbers ravages outside.
- (a) Meaning that there was no one type of vice among them, but that they were subject to all wickedness, both secret and open.
7:2 They don't consider in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness. Now their own deeds have engulfed them. They are before my face.
7:3 They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.
- (b) They esteem their wicked king Jeroboam above God, and seek how to flatter and please him.
7:4 They are all adulterers. They are burning like an oven that the baker stops stirring, from the kneading of the dough, until it is leavened.
- (c) He compares the rage of the people to a burning oven which the baker heats, until his dough is leavened and raised.
7:5 On the day of our king, the princes made themselves sick with the heat of wine. He joined his hand with mockers.
- (d) They used all indulgence and excess in their feasts and solemnities, by which their king was overcome with being fed too much, and brought into diseases, and who delighted in flatteries.
7:6 For they have made ready their heart like an oven, while they lie in wait. Their baker sleeps all the night. In the morning it burns as a flaming fire.
7:7 They are all hot as an oven, and devour their judges. All their kings have fallen. There is no one among them who calls to me.
- (e) By their doing God has deprived them of all good rulers.
7:8 Ephraim, he mixes himself among the nations. Ephraim is a pancake not turned over.
- (f) That is, he counterfeited the religion of the Gentiles, yet is but as a cake baked on the one side, and raw on the other, that is, neither thoroughly hot, nor thoroughly cold, but partly a Jew, and partly a Gentile.
7:9 Strangers have devoured his strength, and he doesn't realize it. Indeed, gray hairs are here and there on him, and he doesn't realize it.
- (g) Which are a token of his manifold afflictions.
7:10 The pride of Israel testifies to his face; yet they haven't returned to Yahweh their God, nor sought him, for all this.
7:11 "Ephraim is like an easily deceived dove, without understanding. They call to Egypt. They go to Assyria.
- (h) That is, without all judgment, as those that cannot tell whether it is better to cleave only to God, or to seek the help of man.
7:12 When they go, I will spread my net on them. I will bring them down like the birds of the sky. I will chastise them, as their congregation has heard.
- (i) According to my curses made to the whole congregation of Israel.
7:13 Woe to them! For they have wandered from me. Destruction to them! For they have trespassed against me. Though I would redeem them, yet they have spoken lies against me.
- (k) That is, at different times redeemed them, and delivered them from death.
7:14 They haven't cried to me with their heart, but they howl on their beds. They assemble themselves for grain and new wine. They turn away from me.
- (l) When they were in affliction, and cried out in pain, they did not seek me for help.
- (m) They only seek their own benefit and wealth, and care not for me their God.
7:15 Though I have taught and strengthened their arms, yet they plot evil against me.
7:16 They return, but not to the Most High. They are like a faulty bow. Their princes will fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue. This will be their derision in the land of Egypt.
- (n) Because they boast of their own strength, and do not care what they speak against me and my servants; (Psalms 73:9).
